Waynesboro Formation

Waynesboro Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cambrian
TypeFormation
Sub-unitsRed Run Member, Cavetown Member, and Chewsville Member
UnderliesElbrook Formation
OverliesTomstown Dolomite
Lithology
Primarysandstone, dolomite, limestone
Othersiltstone, shale
Location
RegionAppalachia and Southeastern United States
Country United States
Extent Virginia,[1]  Maryland,  Pennsylvania, and  West Virginia
Type section
Named forWaynesboro, Pennsylvania[2]

The Waynesboro Formation is a limestone, dolomite, and sandstone geologic formation in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.[2][3][4][5] In some areas it is composed of limestone and dolomite.[4] The Waynsboro Formation is one of the formations that make up the Shenandoah Valley. It dates back to the Cambrian period and is not considered fossiliferous.[3]

Description

The Waynesboro Formation is a predominantly limestone, dolomite, and sandstone formation that is found along the valley floor of the Shenandoah Valley.[3] It can also contain sometimes large beds of siltstone and shale.[2][3][4] The Waynesboro is often covered by gravel washes from surrounding mountains or by weathered debris from the formation itself, making finding outcrops for study difficult.[3][4] The formation is thought to represent a shallow marine depositional environment.[4] It was called the Watuga shale in parts of Virginia, but the name was abandoned in favor of the already established Waynesboro Formation. The Waynesboro Formation contains poorly preserved fossils of the brachiopod Lingulella and the trilobite Ptychoparia[3]

Members

The Waynesboro Formation was recognized as having three members in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.[4][5] These members were later named the Red Run Member, the Cavetown Member, and the Chewsville Member. The Red Run Member is named after Red Run Creek near the Maryland-Pennsylvania state boundary, and forms the basal member of the formation. It consists of calcareous sandstone, sandy dolomite, and calcareous shale. Good exposures of the Cavetown Member are rare, but the member consists of limestone and dolomite with bioturbation with some interbedded sandstone. The youngest member of the Waynesboro Formation is the Chewsville Member, which is named after Chewsville, Maryland. It is composed of interbedded siltstone, sandstone, and shale and is considered the most distinctive member of the formation.[5]

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References

  1. ^ Read, J. Fred; Eriksson, Kenneth A. (2012). Paleozoic Sedimentary Successions of the Virginia Valley & Ridge and Plateau. Virginia: Virginia Tech. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Stose, George W. (1906). "The sedimentary rocks of South Mountain, Pennsylvania". Journal of Geology. 14 (3): 209. doi:10.1086/621298.
  3. ^ a b c d e f King, Philip B. (1950). "Geology of the Elkton area, Virginia" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 230: 30–32. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Haynes, John T (1991). "Stratigraphy of the Waynesboro Formation (Lower and Middle Cambrian) near Buchanan, Botetourt County, Virginia" (PDF). Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication. 116: 1–34. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Brezinski, David K. (1992). "Lithostratigraphy of the western Blue Ridge cover rocks in Maryland" (PDF). Maryland Geological Survey Report of Investigations. 55: 34–46. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  • Generalized Stratigraphic Chart for West Virginia
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Ph
Pz
C
Moscovian
  • Betsie Shale
  • Grundy Formation
  • Hyden Formation
  • Kendrick Shale
  • Pikeville Formation
Bashkirian
  • Bee Rock Formation
  • Hensley Shale
  • Sewannee Formation
  • Warren Point Formation
  • Lee Formation
M
Serpukhovian
  • Bluefield Formation
  • Bluestone Formation
  • Cove Creek Formation
  • Fido Sandstone
  • Hinton Formation
  • Princeton Formation
  • Stony Gap Formation
  • Viséan
    Tournaisian
    D
    Upper
    Famennian
    Frasnian
    Middle
    Givetian
    Eifelian
    Lower
    Emsian
    Pragian
    Lochkovian
    S
    Pridoli
    Ludlow
    Ludfordian
    Gorstian
    Wenlock
    Homerian
    Sheinwoodian
    Llandovery
    Telychian
    Aeronian
    O
    Upper
    Middle
    • Pinesburg Station Dolomite
    Lower
    Є
    Z
    • v
    • t
    • e
    Ph
    Cz
    Pe
    Eocene
    Igneous intrusives
    Mz
    J
    Igneous intrusives
    Pz
    P
    Cisuralian
    Asselian
    C
    Gzhelian
    Kasimovian
    Moscovian
    Bashkirian
    M
    Serpukhovian
    Viséan
    Tournaisian
    D
    Upper
    Famennian
    Frasnian
    Middle
    Givetian
    Eifelian
    Lower
    Emsian
    Pragian
    Lochkovian
    S
    Pridoli
    Ludlow
    Ludfordian
    Gorstian
    Wenlock
    Homerian
    Sheinwoodian
    Llandovery
    Telychian
    Aeronian
    O
    Upper
    Hirnantian
    Katian
    Sandbian
    Middle
    Darriwilian
    Dapingian
    Lower
    Tremadocian
    Є
    Furongian
    Stage 10
    Z
    Ediacaran


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